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Saturday, July 26
 
Kethley cites fake drug tests, cash payments

ESPN.com news services

WACO, Texas -- As authorities work to confirm the identity of a body found Saturday near where they have been searching for missing Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy, the inquisition of the Baylor program continues to heat up.

The Dallas Morning News reported earlier Saturday that Melissa Kethley, the estranged wife of Carlton Dotson, who is charged in Dennehy's disappearance, said that Baylor coaches knew about Dotson's increasing mental troubles and arranged for him to see a therapist this past spring.

Kethley also told the paper that she witnessed Dotson and other Baylor basketball players faking drug tests and that Dotson told her he was often given cash by the team's assistant coaches.

Baylor spokesman Scott Stricklin told the Morning News that school officials had no comment on Kethley's statements. Earlier Friday, Stricklin announced that Baylor had launched an investigative committee charged with examining charges against the Baylor program related to Dennehy. Dennehy reportedly received cash assistance from the Baylor program to buy a sport utility vehicle.

Kethley said that Dotson told her in January "that he heard voices and visions" and that he had accused her of having an affair and began confronting teammates about his suspicions. Kethley said she repeatedly denied Dotson's charges.

Kethley also said that Dotson was so unhappy with their marriage and his limited playing time that coaches arranged for him to speak with a therapist in Waco. She told the Morning News that Dotson went "three or four times" to the therapist, and that she even drove him there once and waited for him during his session.

Kethley said that Dotson never told the therapist about the voices. "He said he didn't want to tell anyone about that stuff," she told the Morning News.

Additionally, Kethley claims Dotson received a urine sample from another player on the Baylor team in order to pass a second drug test after failing one administered by Baylor. Kethley said that she drove Dotson to that test and that he had stashed the clean urine in his pants for use in the test.

Stricklin told the paper that athletes do not receive advance warning on drug tests.

Kethley also claims that Dotson regularly received small cash payments from the Baylor staff.

"If Carlton needed money, he'd go to the Ferrell Center (Baylor's basketball arena). He'd go in, and come back outside with it," she told the paper. "I've never seen him getting more than $50 to $60," she said. "He didn't like asking for money. But every time he would ask, he got it."

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, citing an unnamed source, reported Friday that police halted the search for Dennehy until Dotson, charged with Dennehy's murder, is returned to Texas and can lead police to the body.

Waco Police Chief Alberto Melis told the Star-Telegram Friday that he did not know anything about the search. Sgt. Ryan Holt said in a statement that there were no developments Friday.

Dotson remains jailed without bond in his home state of Maryland. His extradition hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19.

Dennehy's family, in Waco to visit the Baylor campus for the first time, left on Friday with few answers about his disappearance.

Dennehy's mother and stepfather, Valorie and Brian Brabazon, appeared tired and sad as they walked out of the Waco Police Department after a three-hour meeting with a detective. They said the meeting went well but would not discuss specifics about the investigation.

"He just clarified more that they are doing their jobs, and they are still on the case and for us not to be worried about it,'' Valorie Brabazon said. " ... We still have hope our son is out there alive. We're not going to give up hope ever.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report.




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